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Notification

Electronic Notification

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will correspond with you exclusively through your UMBC email address so be sure to monitor it regularly. Once you have been admitted to UMBC you must upgrade your myUMBC account. Your upgraded account will allow you to set up your UMBC email. Students can view a variety of information via myUMBC including financial aid awards and required documents.

Financial Aid Award Notifications are sent beginning late March. An email will be sent via your myUMBC email account when your award notification is available. If you just completed your FAFSA or were recently admitted to UMBC, you will be able to access your award notification 2-3 weeks after the date of submission of your FAFSA or the date you are admitted, whichever is later.

The Financial Aid Package

Our office uses the FAFSA results to determine eligibility for the various need based and non-need based financial aid programs. The total amount of financial aid that a student receives is referred to as the financial aid package. The financial aid package will reflect all federal, state and university offers of aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and student need-based employment. Since the initial financial aid package is provided several months prior to the student’s enrollment, it is determined based on the following assumptions:
  • Student will be enrolled full-time (12 credits undergraduate/9 credits graduate)
  • Living status as reported by the student on the FAFSA
  • Loan amounts are based on the grade level (number of completed credits) and will be processed for the maximum amount the student is eligible to receive

If you will not be enrolled full-time, change your housing status or want to reduce/cancel your loans, please refer to the Adjustments to Initial Award Package section below.

Students who filed the FAFSA in a timely manner could receive a financial aid package with a merit or an academic department scholarship listed. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and other academic departments also send separate notices to their scholarship recipients.

Adjustments to Initial Award Package

Adjustments to the initial award package may be necessary if additional information is received that is different from the assumptions used to determine the original package. If you are receiving additional awards (excluding MD State scholarships) that are not included in your financial aid package you must notify our office. Awards that may affect your eligibility include, but are not limited to: private scholarships, tuition waivers (including RA waivers) and assistantships.

Please note that any changes to the FAFSA data may result in an adjustment to your financial aid package, including but not limited to:
  • Review of your FAFSA due to Verification
  • Enrollment less than full-time (12 credits undergraduate/9 credits graduate). Students who will be enrolled less than full-time must complete the Enrollment Update Form. We also recommend that contact your financial aid counselor to discuss how part-time enrollment may impact your awards
    • Please note students must be enrolled at least six credits to receive a Federal Stafford, Parent PLUS or Grad PLUS Loan
  • Change in your housing status from what was reported on the FAFSA. If your housing plans have changed you must complete the Housing Update Form
  • Corrections made by staff due to conflicting university data

You will receive an electronic notification each time your award package has been adjusted.